Apparatus for making aqueous bituminous emulsions



y 12, 1931. L. KIRSCHBRAUN ET AL 1,304,552

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS Original Filed March 10, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet l 7 m r 0 7 e 4 Z a Z S e A y 1931. L. KIRSCHBRAUN ET AL 1,304,562

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS Original Filed March 10, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 15; van Z0215 [siez/Z zlrsckzrazow fi'edezz'ck COver-fizwzy M ZZjys j May 12, 1931. KIRSCHBRAUN ET AL 1,804,562

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS Original Filed March 10, 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 y 1931. L. KIRSCHBRAUN ET AL 1,804,562

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINDUS EMULSIQNS Original Filed March 10. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inveniors ZesZerJZ 713 072 574 an jredera'ck 6. Overary y 1931. L. KIRSCH BRAUN ETAL 1,804,562

APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS 7 Sheets-Sheet e Original Filed March 10, 1925 jmyemiors. lesier ia'fisdhnun/ ji'edera'clfl Oaerbzazy y 1931- KIRSCHBRAUN ET AL 1,804,562

A APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS Original Filed March 10. 1923 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 I l v j/ 39 Z0725 q llfigiotiafigraun 7604271072 2182' my Patented May 12, '1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LESTER KIRSCHBRAUN, LEONIA, NEVT JERSEY, AND FREDERICK G. OVERBURY, OF

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO THE FLINTKOTE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS APPARATUS FOR MAKING AQUEOUS BITUMINOUS EMULSIONS Continuation of application Serial No. 624,184, filed March 10, 1923. This application :filed March 5, 1928.

Serial No. 259,341.

This application is a continuation of our application, Serial No. 624,184, filed March 10, 1923.

This invention has for its object broadly to provide an apparatus for continuously producing an aqueous non-adhesive homogeneous bituminous or hydrocarbon size or emulsion for use in the arts, such for example for use in the manufacture of fibrous waterproof materials, or for various other purposes, and for practicing the process set forth in our application Serial No. 343,392, filed December 8, 1919, of which this is a division. v

The size or emulsion comprises water, a

hydrocarbon or bitumen of the nature of tar,

non-adhesive, and which may be thinned.

with water and mixed with cellulose fiber and other materials in an ordinary beater engine without forming a coherent mass, and flowed onto a Fourdrinier wireor other support to form a web. When such a web is subjected to heat or pressure, or both, the water is eliminated or expressed and the contacting hydrocarbon or bituminous particles coalesce to form a sheet possessing many of the characteristics of saturated roofing felt. It has heretofore been proposed to mix the water, hydrocarbon and colloidal material, in preparing the size, in batches, but in practise, this procedure has, produced, at times, variable results; and, as initially stated herein, it is the primary object of our invention, to provide, not only a process of feeding, mixing and emulsifying 'the ingredients continuously so as to permit the'continuous with-.

drawal of the finished product, but also due which enables the production ofa product of predetermined standard.

In general, the process as described in our said application is carried out by first forming an aqueous" colloidal suspension, e. g. a

mixture of finely divided clay (containing a high percentage of colloids) or other equivalent colloid and water, in predetermined proportions, and then mixing such suspension with the hydrocarbon or bitumen, the suspension and the hydrocarbon being fed to the emulsifier or mixer in predetermined proportions. Under proper conditions to be described, the hydrocarbon is emulsified by the emulsifying agent and is formed into discrete globules or particles which do not coalesce or adhere, but which, when heated or subjected to suflicient pressure to express the water, form an agglomerated coalescent or coherent mass. The mixing should be thorough, and, so far as we are aware, should take place in the presence of a portion of the previously formed end product. That is to say, the end product, the aqueous colloidal suspension and the hydrocarbon should all be present and mixed together to insure standard results. Preferably, the normally solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon, or bitumen, e. g. asphalt, is heated to a relatively high temperture beforebeing fed to the mixing tank, so that, when it is brought into the presence of the water of the suspension, it is formed into thin films or particles, and the asphalt, the suspension and a portion of the end product are thoroughly mixed. For the purpose if distinguishing this end prodnot which is thus mixed with the other ingredients from that which is drawn from the mixing tank, we refer to it as the virgin material or product.

In actual practice, constant measured streams of the virgin material, the aqueous colloidal suspension and the hot hydrocarbon or bitumenare churned together by agitators operating at high speed, aportlorr of the product being delivered constantly from the apparatus and the remainder being circulated through the mixeras virgin material. Provision is made fort accurately feeding predetermined proportions of the hydrocarbon and the suspension to the mixer and for withdrawing a corresponding amount of finished product; but, in'order to provide for a constant supply of virgin product to the mixer, a dominant pool thereof is established, into which the product is delivered from the mixer, and from Which the end product is continuously withdrawn. This pool is kept in agitation as will be explained more in detail. w

The apparatus, which is illustrated upon the accompanying drawings for carrying out our said process, comprises an instrumentality for making the said suspension, instrumentalities for feeding measured predeter mined proportions of the suspension and the hydrocarbon, a tank for containing the dominant pool, and a mixer therein through which the virgin material in the tank is' circulated and to which the suspension and the hydrocarbon are supplied. 7

Referring to said drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of the apparatus referred to.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 represents on a larger scale the lower portion of the apparatus comprising the tanks in which the suspension is prepared, the pumps, et cetera.

Fig. 4 represents in end elevation the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 represents a section through one of the suspension tanks, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 represents in front elevation the upper part of the apparatus including the tank for the pool and the mixer on a larger scale.

Fig. 7 represents a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 8 represents, in section and on a still larger scale, the mixer, and the container or tank for the pool and in which the mixer is enclosed.

Fig. 9 illustrates one of the bladed ba-flle rings in the mixer.

Fig. 10 illustrates one of the agitators employed in the mixer.

Fig. 11 illustrates the relation of the several agitators on the mixer shaft.

Referring to the apparatus as illustrated by said drawings, it comprises two parts,

one including the mixer or emulsifier and means for clrculatlng a portion of the pool of virgin product through the mixer, and the other including the instrumentalities for circulating and for feeding the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous colloidal suspension to the mixer or emulsionizer. I

The mixer or emulsifier and its adjacent instrumentalities will first be described, reference being had more to Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive, and more particularly to Fig. 8.

A cylindrical tank or container is indicated at 20 which contains the pool of virgin emulsified product, andwhich is provided with a closed lower end or head 21 and an open upper end. A port 22 in the side of the tank communicates with aneduction pipe 23 provided with a valve 24 for regulating the flow of the finished product therethrough. The tank is provided in its bottom with one or more clean-' out apertures 25 normally closed by screw plugs 26. Located concentrically within the tank is a stationary upright open end tube or cylinder 27 (forming a chamber) which is considerably less both in length and diameter than the tank or container 20, and which is secured in place by radiating spokes 28, of which there may be any suitable number.

For convenience, the reduced inner ends 29 of the spokes may be screwed into complemental threaded apertures in the cylinder 27, and lag screws 30 may be employed to secure the outer Arranged axially in the cylinder 27 is an agitator shaft 31 mounted so as to be capable of high speed rotation, and having fast thereon a series of-propellers 32. Each propeller has a hub keyed on the shaft and fastened against axial movement, and radiating helicoidal blades of relatively sharp pitch extending close to the inner wall of the cylinder. As shown, there are three of these agitators or propellers, and they are arranged on the shaft in the non-registering relation shown in Fig. 11. Between the propellers, the cylinder may if desired be provided with two rings 33, eaohhaving inwardly projecting blades 34:

which are radially disposed but which are opposite in pitch to the propeller or agitator blades. At 35 there is a frusto-conical hood or deflector which has hooked straps 36 which are engaged with the upper edge of the tank 20, and which are detachably secured thereto by set-screws 37. This hood is of such dian 1 eter at its base that it can be slid into the upper end of the tank as shown. If desired this hood may be omitted or replaced by a closed top or head. At 38 there is shown a pipe or conduit for supplying asphalt or other equivalent hydrocarbon to the apparatus, and at 39 is a pipe or conduit for supplying the aqueous colloidal suspension thereto. Fast on the lower end of the shaft, below the lower end of the cylinder, there is a hub or disk 40 having a plurality of radiating fiat blades, the function of which is to stir the material contained in the tank and to cause it to flow upwardly through the annular space between the cylinder and the wall of the tank, and overflow back or circulate through the'cylinder, as will be explained more at length hereinafter. It may be remarked in passing that these blades are formed with cylindrical shanks arranged in-sockets in the hubs and are thus capable of rotative adjustment to vary the pitch of the flat portions of the blade,

and thus increase or decrease the lifting action of the blades on; the material in the tank. The manner in which the shaft 31 is ourn alled and stepped and the mechanism for effecting its rotation at high speed,say

ends thereof to the wall of the tank 20.

20 with the virgin product. The rapid rotation 600 R. P. M.,wi11 subsequently be described.

aqueous suspension at seasonable temperatures or at an elevated temperature are being fed at the proper rate of flow and in proper proportion to the cylinder, the following.

action takes place. The virgin material is swirled and agitated and forced to flow spirally upwardly through the space between the container and the enclosed cylinder, and to overflow back in a swirling stream into the top of the cylinder substantially as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 8. The asphalt at a higher temperature is delivered into contact with the aqueous suspension (delivered through the ipe 39) and also into contact of the agitator blades, agitates the mixture and throws it centrifugally outwardly in-a swirling mass toward the wall of the cylinder and also downward] in vortex, formation, (this mass being broken up, intermixed and intermingled by contact with the baffle blades .34, if the latter are present). The result is that, before leaving the cylinder under impulsion of the lower propeller or agitator, the whole mass is thoroughly churned into a homogeneous emulsion. The resultant product isone in which the minute globules of asphalt are dispersed in discrete non-adhesive particles in the water.

The highly heated asphalt, on coming into contact with the water, probably foams, because of the formation of steam, and the foaming mass is forced downwardly through the mixer cylinder, there being a distinct vortex axially within the cylinder. A small portion of the end product flows constantly through the eduction pipe 23, the outflow being in volume e ual to the inflow of the asphalt and the col oidal suspension. There is,

. however, a continuous circulation of the virgin product of the pool in the container, upwardly past the exterior of the mixer cylinder, and downwardly through the latter, withgnt the formation of a cohesive or sticky mass. By regulating the inflow of asphalt, or colloidal suspension, the end product will be more or less viscous (or thicker or thinner) as the case ma be. The valved eduction or delivery con uit 23 is shown, in Fig. 2, as discharging the final pzoduct into a barrel 41. The barrels may rolled down inclined skids 42 suitably supported and braced, so as to be brou ht successively into receivin position. If esired, however, the

'end' pro uct may be delivered through conduits to any other suitable receptacles.

'The agitator shaft 31, as shown in Figs. 1,-

6 and 7 has its upper portion journalled in adjustab 1e bearings 43, 44,- and is provided with ad'ustable thrust collars 45, 46, so that it may adjusted vertically and laterally to ali 11 its axis with the axis of the mixer cylin er. At its lower end, the shaft 31 is threaded (as shown in Fig. 8) to receive the hub 40, to which is secured an end thrust plate 47 engaging the conical end of pin 48. The pin 48 is located in a plate 49 riveted to the bottom of the tank or container 20. T

The tank 20 is supported on a platform 50, placed upon an upper horizontal frame consisting of I-beams 51, connected by crossbeams 52, and resting on beams 51 secured to uprights or legs 53. The uprights rest upon and are secured to a lower-frame including the longitudinal and transverse beams 54, 55.- Upon the platform 50, we have shown an electric motor 56 from the rotor shaft of which a belt 57 transmits power to a ulley 58 on a transverse shaft 59 journalle in bearings 60, 61. From this shaft power is transmitted to the mixer shaft 31, as will be described. The bearings 43, 44 for said mixer shaft are supported by cross bars 62, 63, affixed to side standards'64, 64, of any sultable construction secured upon the platform 50. Shaft 31 has a pulley 65, to which power is transmitted from a pulley 66 on shaft 59, by a .belt 67 which passes over pulleys 68, 68, loose on a horizontal shaft 69. The last mentioned shaft is mounted in adjustable boxes or bearings which may be adjusted by a screw bar 70 to vary the tension on the belt 67. In lieu of employing an electric motor, and the special power-transmitting mechanism which has been described, power for effecting a rapid rotation of the mixer shaft maybe derived from any other suitable source and transmitted to the shaft by any other suitable power-transmitting mechanism.

The asphalt, pitch or other hydrocarbon or bitumen is drawn from the usual kettles 71 in which it is heated to the desired temperature, and is delivered to the conduit 38 by which it is supplied to the mixer. In order that it may be prevented from congealing, the various conduits through which it passes are steam-jacketed or have internal steam pipes as may be most convenient. The asphalt comes from the kettle through conduit 71, valved as at 72, and is forced by a suitable pump 73 (preferably of the Kinney t e) to an upright conduit 74 fromwhich a ranch 75, valved as at 76, leads to ameter 77 (preferably of the Bowser type) to the outlet of which the conduit 38 is connected.

Connected to the fitting 78, from which the ated by the valve 76. At the upper end of the upright conduit 74, there is a fitting 80 from which a conduit 81 leads back to the kettle. A constant circulation of asphalt is maintained through the kettle, the pipe 81, pump 7 3, pipe 74, and pipe 81 to prevent the asphalt from congealing. The pump 73 is shown as being operated by an electric motor 90, and both the pump and the motor as being supported upon the platform 50.

The instrumentalities for creating the colloid suspension and for feeding it to the mixer will now be described. A large tank 91 is supported on the lower frame beneath the platform 50, and is divided transversely by a partition 92 to form two separate compartments 93, 94, so that one batch may be undergoing the mixing operation in one, while the already prepared batch in the other is being withdrawn for delivery to the emulsifier. In front of the duplex tank, there is a pipe 95 having its opposite ends opening into two compartments to receive the colloid suspension therefrom, and between its ends it has a T-fitting 96 from which a pipe 97 leads to a pump 98. The pipe 95 has the two valves 99, 100, to cut off the supply from the two suspension-forming or mixing compartments. By the pump, the suspension delivered thereto is forced through a pipe 101, to the bottom of an upright tank or standpipe 102 secured to one of the standards 64 above the level of the emulsionizing tank.v From the lower portion of this tank or standpipe 102, the pipe 39 delivers the suspension to the emulslonizer or mixer. Inserted between sections of the pipe 39, there is a meter 103 of any suitable character for measuring the flow of the suspension. By the provision of the elevated standpipe, the hydrostatic pressure or head .is unvarying, provision being made however, to keep the standpipe full at all times. To this end, an overflow pipe 104 leads from the closed upper end of the standpipe to a manifold 105 whose ends are downturned into the two compartments bf tank 91,

, and are provided with valves 106, 107. The

pump 98 is continuously driven at such speed as to insure a greater quantity of suspension being fed to the standpipe than will flow, under the constant hydrostatic head, to the emulsionizer. By thus circulating the suspension, we prevent the colloidal material from settling in the standpipe. The rate of flow of the suspension into the emulsionizer is thus constant, and the rate of flow of the asphalt may be varied, according to the -meter readings, to securethe desired propor tion of as halt to suspension. The pump 98 is preferably contained within a closed box or casing 108, and isoperated by a motor 109 likewise located in said casing. The rotor shaft is shown as having a pulley 110, which by a belt 111 drives an operating pulley 112 on the pump. This motor likewise drives the agitators or stirrers in the suspension-forming compartments, and for that purpose its rotor shaft is provided with a worm 113 nalled in suitable bearings. One of the shafts 116 has a pulley or sprocket wheel 118, to which power is transmitted from a pulley or sprocket 119 on shaft 115 by abelt or sprocket chain 120. Said shaft 116 is connected to the other shaft 116 by pulleys or sprockets 121, 121, and belt or chain 122, in consequence of which said shafts 116 are constantly rotated. Within the two compartments, each pair 0 shafts 116, 117, operates an endless slat conveyor consisting of sprocket chains carrying transverse slats 123 and tracking on sprockets 124 on said shafts. One stretch of each conveyor travels horizontally close to the bottom of the compartment, and the other along a level thereabove so that the slats in their travel adequately stir, agitate and mix the water and colloidal material which are supplied to the compartment, to produce a substantially homogeneous suspension of water and clay or other colloid. The clay is supplied by any suitable instrumentalities to the several compartments as by measuring scoops or buckets, in the hands of the workmen, and the water is supplied from a suitable source through a pipe 125 having a manifold 126, provided with valves or faucets 127 located above the compartments.

The proportions of clay to water are preferably, by weight, one to four, but these, of course, may be varied. In consistency the suspension is not unlike milk of lime.

Assuming that the emulsifying tank is empty, in order to-start the process, the procedure may be as follows: A thick pasty or plastic mass of clay and Water is secured by filling the emulsifying tank with water, starting the mixer shaft in operation, and adding clay gradually, until the mixture is like mud and is barely capable of flowing. There it a ture of 325400 F. to cause it to flow readily is added in a thin stream to the mass, wa-

ter at ordinary temperature also being added. The cooling of the asphalt by the water tends to make the mixture stiffen or become more viscous. The level of the mixture is maintained just above the upper end of the cylinder, asphalt and water being added, and the agitation continued until the proportions of clay, water and asphalt arevapproximately 130 i from the sheet the particles of asphalt co- 'vir' correct and the desired consistency of the emulsion is obtained. Then the supply of water is cut ofi, the pump 98'is started in action, and the suspension from one of the compartments of the tank 91 is delivered continuously to the emulsifying instrumentality. Thereafter the suspension and the asphalt are fed continuously and at the desired relative rates of flow.

It is advantageous to maintain the temperature of the hydrocarbon or bitumen above the boiling point of water, as we believe that the generation of steam causes the formation of bubbles and consequently of thin films of the asphalt. The steam, however, is probably subsequently condensed in the mass, the temperature of which is below the boiling point of water. It is our theory that the asphalt is drawn out into attenuated threads, which break, this action being rapid and repeated, until the filaments become so small, and are so sub-divided, that the surface tension of the particles causes them to assume a globular form. The presence of the finished prod not, which is more viscous than the molten asphalt, assists in the formation of the attenuated threads or filaments and their sub-division into discrete particles. This dispersion of the asphaltic material is produced also with the aid of the emulsifying agent (i. e.

the colloidal material), which in effect either.

increases the surface tension of the molten pitch undergoing dispersion, or decreases that of the dispersion medium. It is de sirable that the molten asphaltic material should not come as a stream into contact-with the agitator blades or paddles so as to adhere thereto, and form lumps of undispersed hard material, and hence a thin stream of the asphalt-is preferably delivered upon the swirling stream of finished or base product overflowing the upper edge of the cylinder and brought thereby into contact with the aqueous suspension which is also delivered thereon. The asphaltic material, the aqueous suspension, and a small portion of the or finished product, which are being subJected at their point of confluence to the action thus described, are separated from the upwardly moving mass in the tank, by the central open end .cylinder, the churning operation of the agitating propellers taking place within the cylinder. Ordinarily the proportion of asphalt and clay is about four, five or more parts by weight of asphalt to one part of clay, but these proportions may be greatly varied. -An emulsion produced as herein described ma contain, for example,

%v asphalt, 10% c ay and 40% water, by wei ht. Such an emulsion, in which the asphalt is dispersed in the water, may be thinned with water, and mixed with paper stock in an ordinary beater and formed into a felted sheet. When the water is eliminated alesce, and the sheet is in many respects like a felt sheet which has been impregnated with molten asphalt and then permitted to cool The emulsion is non-adhesive, but with the elimination of water becomes a coherent coalescent mass.

We claim as our invention:

. 1. An apparatus for making emulsions, comprising in combination, a container for holdlng a pool of the end product, means including a propelling means in the container mounted axially on rotating means for forcing said product downwardly in a path adj acent the axis of rotation of the propelling means, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for introducing said heat liquefiable material therefrom to the container, means for introducing water and dispersive media to the container, and regulatory means for continuously withdrawing quantities of the end product from the pool at substantially the rate at which the materials fed to the container are introduced.

2. An apparatus for producing emulsions comprising in combination, a mixing receptacle wherein a pool of the end product is contained, a discharge-pipe in the wall of the receptacle, an asphalt heating receptacle, a pipe discharging from said asphalt heating receptacle to said mixing receptacle, means to heat the asphalt, a receptacle for mixing emulsifying media, a pipe discharging from the latter into the first mixing receptacle, means including a propelling means for imparting motion to said pool, and for creating and maintaining a vortex in the moving stream.

3. An apparatus for the roduction of bitumen compositions reducible in water, comprising a receptacle, an open conduit in said receptacle spaced from the side walls and base thereof, a discharge pipe in a wall of the receptacle, a bitumen heating recep-. tacle, a pipe discharging from said bitumen. heating first receptacle to said receptacle, means to heat the bitumen, a receptacle for mixing emulsifying media, a pipe discharg-' ing from the latter into the first receptacle, and propelling means disposed in the conduit for causing a violent agitation and rotation of materials fed into the first receptacle.

4. An apparatus for the production of bitumen compositions reducible in water, comprising a mixing receptacle, an open ended conduit in said receptacle spaced from the walls thereof, a discharge pipe in a wall of the receptacle, a bitumen heating receptacle, a

pipe discharging from said bitumen heating receptacle to said mixing receptacle, means to heat the bitumen, a receptacle for mixing mixing receptacle, said propelling means being so disposed as to force the contents of the receptacle. downwardly through said open comprising a mixing receptacle, a discharge pipe therefor connected to a wall of the receptacle, a mixing propeller in said receptacle, a motor connected therewith, a receptacle for heating asphalt, means to heat the same, a receptacle for receiving and mixing emulsifying media and water, and means to supply the first mentioned mixing receptacle with measured quantities of asphalt, dispersive media and water.

6.- An apparatus for producing emulsions,

comprising a mixing receptacle, a discharge pipe therefor connected to awall of the receptacle, an open conduit in said receptacle spaced from the walls thereof, a mixing propeller in said conduit, amotor connected therewith, a receptacle for heating asphalt, means to heat the same, a receptacle for receiving and mixing emulsifying media and water, and' means to supply the first mentioned mixing receptacle with measured quantities of asphalt, dispersive media and water.

7. An apparatus for making emulsion continuously, comprising in combination, a container for holding a pool of the end product,

an open conduit mounted within said con-- tainer below the normal level of the pool and spaced from the walls of the container, a bitumen heating receptacle, a communication between the latter and said container, a receptacle for mixing emulsifying media and water, a communication between the latter and the container, means for propelling the materials downwardly through the conduit and upwardly between the conduit and the walls of the container in an unimpeded passage, and regulatory means, including a discharge pipe, for withdrawing quantities of theend product from the pool at substantially the rate at which the materials to be mixed are introduced.

8. Apparatus for lproducing aqueous dispersions of heat lique able material, comprising a mixing receptacle provided with means for producing attenuation of the heat liquefiable material introduced in molten condition therein, means for reducing heat liquefiable material to molten condition, means for feeding said molten heat liquefiable material and dispersing media in substantially continuousseparate streams to said mixing receptacle, means for discharging heat liquefiable material in dispersedcondition from said receptacle, and means for regulating the relative rates of flow through said feeding and discharge means.

9. An apparatus for producing dispersions ducing regulated quantities of water and dispersive media to said container, and means for producing attenuation of streams of incoming heat liquefiable material into fine filaments and for effecting progressive severin of the attenuated filaments into disperse particles.

10. An apparatus for producing dispersions of heat liquefiable material comprising in combination, a container for holding a pool of the end product, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for introducing said heat liquefiable material from said heating means to the container, means for introducing regulated quantities of water and dispersive media to said container, means for producing attenuation of streams of incoming heat liquefiable material into fine filaments and for efiecting progressive severing of the attenuated filaments into dispersed particles, valve controlled outlet means for withdrawing dispersed product, and 'means for causing movement of the end product to said outlet means.

11. An apparatus for producing dispersions of heat liquefiahle material comprising in combination, a container for holding a pool of the end product, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for introducing said heat liquefiable material from said heating means to the container, means for introducing regulated quantities of water and dispersive media to said container, means for producing attenuation of streamsof incoming heat liquefiable material into fine filaments and for efiecting progressive severin of the attenuated filaments into disperse particles, and means for maintaining a portion of the end product at that zone of the apparatus at which the material to be emulsified is introduced.

12. An apparatus for producing dispersions of heat liquefiable material comprising in combination, a container for holding a pool of the end product, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for introducing said heat liquefiable material from said heating means to the container, means for introducing regulated quantities of water and dispersive media to said container, means for producing attenuation of streams of incoming heat liquefiable material into fine filaments and for effecting progressive severing of the attenuated filaments into dispersed particles, means for maintaining a portion of the end product at that zone of the apparatus at which the material to be emulsified is introduced,- outlet means for withdrawing the end product from the apparatus, and

aeoasea means for causing movement of the end prodnot to said outlet means.

13. An apparatus for producing aqueous dispersions of heat liquefiable material comprising in combination, a container for holding a pool of the end product, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for feeding heat liquefiable material, dispersive media and Water to said container, means in said container for causing the incoming heat liquefiable material to be attenuated and subdivided into finely divided condition while flowing through a defined path and while fresh heat liquefiable material is being fed to the apparatus, and means for discharging from the apparatus a portion of the end product.

14. An apparatus for producing aqueous dispersions of heat liquefiable material comprising in combination, a container for holdmg a pool of the end product, means for heating heat liquefiable material, means for feeding heat liquefiable material, dispersive media and water to said container, means in said container for causing the incoming heat liquefiable material to be attenuated and subdivided into finely divided condition while flowing through a defined path and while fresh heat liquefiable material is being fed to the apparatus, means for discharging from the apparatus a portion of the end product, and means for causing other portions of the end product to mingle with fresh heat liquefiable material being fed to the apparatus.

LESTER KIRSCHBRAUN. FREDERICK C. OVERBURY. 

